Caster.



No. 818,442. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906 O. HOFFMANN.

CASTBR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11, 1905.

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OTTO HOFFMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' CASTIER.

Application filed December 1 Tocdl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro HOFFMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Casters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to casters, and comprises particularly a roller-bearing caster having a rotary block in which the casterwheel is journaled, the block being mounted within a barrel depending from a base-plate and having antifriction-rollers between the block and the plate.

The caster will, on account of its strength, be found useful for pianos and heavy furniture.

In the accompanying a side elevation of the caster. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

At 6 is indicated a base-plate having a depending barrel 7 formed integral therewith. The edges of the base-plate extend beyond the barrel and are provided with holes for screws by which the caster is held in place. A circular bearing-block 8 fits in the barrel and has at the top a spindle 9, which extends through a bearing-hole at the center of the plate. A cotter-pin 10 holds the parts to.- gether. The top of the block has seats 11 for bearing-rollers 12, which lie in said seats and bear against the base -plate 6. There are preferably three of these rollers, although more may be used. The lower end of the block is forked to receive the caster-Wheel 13, which turns on a pin 14, extending across between the forks.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1,1905- Serial No. 291,287.

drawings, Figure 1 is Patented April 24, 1906.

The wide fit or bearing of the bearing-block against the sides of the barrel makes the caster of great strength, particularly as the barrel extends below the axis of the wheel, and thus supports any undue strain. The rollers permit the block to swivel freely. The caster-wheel is not offset from the spindle, but is located at the axis thereof. Offset caster-wheels are necessarily weak and liable to break at their pivot-pins because the strain is not direct. In the construction shown the strain or Weight is in a direct line, and the weakness incident to an offset-wheel is avoided.

The caster has the advantage of few parts, all of which are relatively stout and easy of manufacture. The parts may be easily and cheaply assembled, and it is impossible for the bearing-rollers to come out or be accidentally lost in transportation or use.

I claim- A caster comprising a base-plate having a depending barrel and a bearing-hole at the center thereof, a block fitting in the barrel andhaving a spindle on top extending through the hole, rollers between the base-plate and the top of the block, and a caster-Wheel mounted in the bottom of the block in line with the axis of the spindle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO I-IOFFMANN.

Witnesses:

NELLIE FELTsKoe, II. G. BATOHELOR. 

